美語訓(xùn)練班083

A: 歡迎大家來到這期的美語訓(xùn)練班! 我是楊琳!

B: 我是Mike! 楊琳，來告訴大家今天都要學(xué)什么?

A: 沒問題! 今天，我們要聊聊怎么及時行樂，看看在美國打官司的繁瑣流程，還要告訴你怎么說自以為是!

B: Eat, drink and be merry! That's my motto in life!

A: Exactly. That's why I end up doing all the work for you!

B: Yeah, as if that's true....

A: 哈哈，不過確實，我覺得好多中國人活得太累了，看歐洲小鎮(zhèn)的人民，多瀟灑! 好了，我們現(xiàn)在先言歸正傳，來進(jìn)入第一個單元，Learn a word!

Learn A Word 1615 much-needed

今天我們要學(xué)的詞是 much-needed. much is spelled m-u-c-h, much, needed is spelled n-e-e-d-e-d, needed, much-needed. much-needed 急需的。The school received a much-need grant to keep its band. 學(xué)校得到了一筆急需的補助金，保住了學(xué)校的樂隊。It was a much-needed win for our team. 我們球隊太需要這場勝利了。The students can finally get some much-needed sleep after the final exams. 期終考試結(jié)束后，學(xué)生們終于可以補補覺了。The first presidential debate delivered a much-needed boost for Romney. 總統(tǒng)候選人之間的第一場辯論，對羅姆尼的選戰(zhàn)是一次非常及時的推動。好的，今天我們學(xué)習(xí)的詞是 much-needed, much-needed, much-needed....

A: 說起much-needed, 我也來造個句。After this long thanksgiving road trip, I definitely will enjoy a much-needed break.

B: I agree. Well I mean, on top of that, I plan to start a much-needed diet so I can get rid of these love handles.

A: You look ok! Just keep going to the gym; I'm sure these holiday weight will be gone in a jiffy.

B: I don't know 楊琳. I think my body has this magic power to hold on to fat. And I have really low self-control over gourmet food, especially with all the Christmas and new year family get-together coming up!

A: 哎呀，節(jié)日期間，別這么悲觀嘛! In my opinion, all the holiday calories will convert into happy mood! Eat, drink and be merry! 及時行樂，回頭的事兒回頭再說嘛!

B: Haha, I like your attitude!

A: 剛才我說到了及時行樂，在今天的美語怎么說里，咱們就來聽聽看這個詞兒要怎么用!

How to say it in American English

Jessica在北京學(xué)漢語，她的中國朋友要是遇到了不知道用美語怎么說的詞，就會來請教她。今天是方方要問的：及時行樂

Jessica: Fangfang, how was your date last night? I heard he was quite a looker!

FF: 唉，怎么說呢...這男生長得是不錯，可是話不投機(jī)! 我說我愛游泳，他說小心被淹，我說我愛旅游，他說旅游就是花錢買罪受!

Jessica: Really? He's a Debbie downer!

FF: Debbie? 他不叫Debbie.

Jessica: No, Debbie downer refers to those who are so negative and always bring down the mood of other people.

FF: 我明白了，說一個人特消極，老說喪氣話打擊別人，就可以用Debbie downer. My date from last night was such a Debbie downer that I went home with a heavy heart!

Jessica: That was no fun! We shouldn't let a Debbie downer ruin our high spirits.

FF: 就是的! 我還是喜歡積極向上，陽光型的! 這種人用美語又怎么說呢?

Jessica: You can say he has a sunny personality.

FF: 嗯! I want to go out with a man who has a sunny personality. He can cheer me up when I'm moody.

Jessica: I used to date a guy like that! He is the most positive person I've ever known and he always seems so contend.

FF: 可以想像。對人生要求不多，只要及時行樂，這就是我的理想男友的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)! 那及時行樂又怎么說呢?

Jessica: We say "eat, drink and be merry."

FF: Eat, drink and be merry. 吃，喝，快快樂樂。Gosh! This is my motto in life!

Jessica: It is mine, too!

FF:今天我們學(xué)了：陰沉喪氣的人是Debbie downer, 陽光向上的性格是sunny personality, 及時行樂則是to eat, drink and be merry.

A: 嗯，這里說的真對! 我就特別喜歡有sunny personality 的人，跟這種人在一起，整個人也會變得陽光起來!

B: Oh, I get it now! It is my sunny personality that attracts all the people around me! No wonder I'm so popular!

A: OMG....自以為是大王! 您的自信都流出來了吧....

B: Haha, I'm kidding I'm kidding. But seriously, laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone. (if you think this is too cheesy change it....)

A: 沒錯! 剛才我說Mike自以為是，在今天的words and idioms里，咱們就來學(xué)學(xué)這個詞兒用美語怎么說!

Words and Idioms 993

現(xiàn)在播送美國習(xí)慣用語第 993講。我是楊琳。

M: 我是Steve Baragona.

最近我們這正在招聘新的制片人。來面試的人很多，其中有個女的，她的簡歷特別好，但是面試過程不太順利。她不停吹噓自己得了多少多少獎，做過多少獨家訪談，有多少新奇的創(chuàng)意什么的。所有面試官都認(rèn)為她的性格不合適這份工作，這也讓我想到了一句習(xí)慣用語，那就是:

M: Full of oneself. Full is spelled F-U-L-L.Full of oneself.

如果我們說一個人full of oneself, 意思就是他特別自以為是。就像上面我提到的這個來面試的人: All the boasting she did led the interviewers to conclude that she was FULL OF HERSELF. 她不停吹噓自己，讓面試官都覺得她特別自大。太自以為是的人確實很難成為團(tuán)隊的一員。下面的例子里就要談到這樣一個人，我們來聽聽看:

M: "It can't be denied that Donald Trump is extremely successful in the business world. Through his many investments and ownership of luxurious properties, he's worth about $2.9 billion. Still, his critics think he's incredibly FULL OF HIMSELF. Maybe he wouldn't be so great if he weren't conceited?!"

[這段話是說: 無可否認(rèn)的是，特朗普在商業(yè)界確實非常成功。通過各種投資和他所擁有的眾多豪華地產(chǎn)，他的身價已經(jīng)達(dá)到了近29億美元。不過，批評人士仍然認(rèn)為他過于高傲自大。或許如果不是這樣的話，他也不會有今天的成功吧? ]

對啊! 我想很多人都看過特朗普的真人電視秀"學(xué)徒"。在節(jié)目中，20名年輕男女爭奪為他工作的機(jī)會。如果他們失敗了，他就會告訴他們:"你被解雇了!" 在我看來，這并不是真正的娛樂節(jié)目。簡直就是他自我炫耀的機(jī)器! 好了，讓我們再來聽聽剛才那段話:

M: "It can't be denied that Donald Trump is extremely successful in the business world. Through his many investments and ownership of luxurious properties, he's worth about $2.9 billion. Still, his critics think he's incredibly FULL OF HIMSELF. Maybe he wouldn't be so great if he weren't conceited?!"

自大的人當(dāng)然很讓人討厭，可是世界上也有很多與此相反的人，讓我們來聽聽下面這個例子：

M: "Cheryl and I almost didn't go on a first date. That's because my ex-girlfriend lied about me to her and said that I was FULL OF MYSELF. Luckily, Cheryl didn't listen to her. After meeting me, she decided that I was actually not self-important at all. So we started going out and now are thinking about getting married."

[這段話是說：謝麗兒和我?guī)缀鯖]見面，就錯過了彼此。這是因為我的前女友告訴她說我特別自大。幸好謝麗兒沒有聽她的話。與我見面之后，她覺得我其實并不是那種自我膨脹的人，然后我們開始約會，現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)開始考慮結(jié)婚了。]

幸好這個謝麗兒是個思想開放的人。有些人人云亦云，聽到別人怎么說就會怎么做，也就導(dǎo)致了無法改變的刻板印象。幸好上面這對情侶沒有就此錯過! 好的，我們再來聽聽剛才那段話:

M: "Cheryl and I almost didn't go on a first date. That's because my ex-girlfriend lied about me to her and said that I was FULL OF MYSELF. Luckily, Cheryl didn't listen to her. After meeting me, she decided that I was actually not self-important at all. So we started going out and now are thinking about getting married."

今天我們學(xué)習(xí)的習(xí)慣用語是full of oneself, 意思是自以為是。好的，這次[美國習(xí)慣用語]就到此結(jié)束，我是楊琳，我是Steve Baragona。謝謝各位的收聽。

A: I really don't want to deal with those people who're full of themselves. I remember I used to have a co-worker who's always bragging about how he is the best at doing everything, it's so annoying!

B: I know. Winston Churchill once said "Attitude is little thing that makes a big difference."

A: Yeah, exactly. Now you know how hard my life is since I have to deal with you...maybe I can get some compensation out of this....

B: 楊琳，seriously, I'm so going to sue you based on these emotional damages!

A: Don't you know it's illegal to threat to sue someone if you don't mean to actually do it? 不過啊，在今天的business etiquette里，Barry的公司就真被人家起訴了! 咱們來聽聽他們要怎么應(yīng)對吧!

禮節(jié)美語A Lawsuit I

Barry 召集公司同事開會，有個壞消息要宣布。

Barry: Well, folks...I'm afraid I have some bad news. Our lawyers told me this morning that we are being sued.

Chris: Sued? Who's suing us?

Susan: And on what grounds?

B: An Australian man named John Smith alleged that his microwave exploded while he was using it last year. Mr. Smith suffered injuries and he wants compensation.

C: How much compensation does he want?

B: His lawyers are asking for two million dollars.

S: Two million! That's insane!

Barry 說，公司被告了，We are being sued. sued is spelled s-u-e-d, sued, 是控告、起訴的意思。Susan問，起訴罪名是什么，on what grounds? grounds 在這里是理由、根據(jù)的意思。Barry說，原告是一個澳大利亞人，被微波爐炸傷，索賠兩百萬美元，Susan覺得 That's insane! 這簡直是瘋了!

C: This is how the game is played. They ask for millions but it's usually a negotiating tactic.

B: Yeah, Chris is probably right. The figure of two million dollars is a place to begin bargaining from. They are probably hoping to settle the case quickly.

S: But Barry, we don't manufacture microwave ovens! How in the world are we responsible for an accident like this?

B: We might not manufacture microwaves, but our company does make a heat-sensing component that is part of many microwaves. Maybe Chris can shed some light on this, Chris?

Chris說，對方要價兩百萬只是一種談判策略， a negotiating tactic。Barry也覺得對方希望 settle the case quickly，盡快了結(jié)案子?？墒?，公司不生產(chǎn)微波爐，為什么要為微波爐爆炸賠錢呢?Barry 請 Chris 給大家解釋一下，shed some light on this. Chris 說，

C: If I'm not mistaken, you're referring to our company's sensor chips. They are small chips that help control how heat is regulated.

S: So our chip made the microwave blow up?

C: Not exactly. The chip might have malfunctioned, but I doubt it. We test those products very rigorously and our quality control is strong. I don't think we are responsible for the explosion.

S: I don't believe the sensor could cause an explosion. We are innocent! This lawsuit is totally without merit!

原來，他們公司生產(chǎn)的 sensor chip 感應(yīng)芯片是微波爐的感熱部件。不過Chris說，公司質(zhì)檢很嚴(yán)格，所以芯片應(yīng)該和微波爐爆炸無關(guān)。這么說，This lawsuit is totally without merit, 這樁訴訟完全就是無理取鬧。那么，公司要如何應(yīng)對這樁官司呢?我們下次繼續(xù)聽。

A: 公司被別人告了，要求賠償200萬美金，Barry說，這只是 a negotiating tactic 談判策略，肯定不用陪這么多錢，但是他希望能settle the case quickly 盡快了結(jié)案子。 Chris說，This lawsuit is totally without merit 這樁訴訟完全就是無理取鬧。無端端被人告，真是太郁悶了!

B: Yeah, it's never pleasant to get involve in a lawsuit. Not only you have to prepare tons of paperwork, the lawyer fee is also astronomical....plus, I always feel like lawyers are more interested in winning an argument then actually finding out the truth, so you never know what's going to happen.

A: 可不是嘛! 不過說起來，上次我停車拿到了罰單，還去法庭上訴了呢! 結(jié)果錢就拿回來啦! 還不錯!

B: Yeah, but those cases are totally different. Let's continue to listen and find out how the company is going to deal with this lawsuit!

禮節(jié)美語A Lawsuit II

公司被人狀告索賠，同事們在討論如何應(yīng)對。

S: So how does this work? What will we have to do?

B: A lawyer will stop by next week and take statements from each of us.

S: What kind of statement are they looking for?

B: It will probably be just a basic statement about what you know about our company's heat sensors. They will want to know if you had any knowledge of a cover-up of defective products.

Barry說，下周律師會來提取證詞，看看 if you had any knowledge of a cover-up of defective products. 員工是否知道公司有掩蓋問題產(chǎn)品的行為。cover-up 意思是掩蓋。defective 意思是有缺陷。

S: I don't know anything about sensors! I'm an accountant!

B: Then that's exactly what you tell them. Just stick to the truth.

C: I'll start preparing our test records and compiling data about our products.

S: Why do you need to do that?

B: We need to prove that we are not liable. Let's give Mr. Smith's lawyers access to our internal memos and quality control data. We have nothing to hide.

跟律師談話，要據(jù)實以告, stick to the truth, 因為 we have nothing to hide. 我們沒什么好隱瞞的。 Barry還說，公司會允許原告律師查看公司內(nèi)部備忘錄和質(zhì)檢數(shù)據(jù)。To give someone access to something 意思是允許某人接觸某物。

S: Does this mean I will have to testify in court?

B: That's very possible. We might all be called as witnesses.

S: What should I tell them?

B: Just answer all the questions truthfully. We stand by our products and we're proud of our company.

C: They will probably question me more because I'm the engineer. I'm going to have to do some homework and brush up on my knowledge.

Barry 說，大家都有可能要出庭作證。 Chris 是工程師，說自己要 do some homework， 準(zhǔn)備一下，and brush up on my knowledge，溫習(xí)一下相關(guān)的業(yè)務(wù)知識。

S: But what if we lose? If we have to make such a big payout, we might go bankrupt!

B: Hold your horses! First, we won't lose...but if we do, our lawyers will appeal the verdict.

S: But the other side can appeal too!

B: Yes, that's true. But eventually this case will come to a conclusion and no more appeals are allowed. Who knows? We might even counter-sue them for making false allegations.

C: Sounds like a plan.

Susan 擔(dān)心，如果官司打輸，就要make a big payout，賠很多錢，導(dǎo)致公司破產(chǎn)。Barry勸她說： Hold your horses! 別著急! 就算輸了也可以appeal the verdict, 上訴。公司甚至可以counter-sue， 反訴原告，罪名是making false allegations 誣告。

A: 律師下周會來取證，Barry說，我們要stick to the truth, 據(jù)實相告，因為we have nothing to hide, 沒什么可隱瞞的。Chris是公司的工程師，他準(zhǔn)備brush up on his knowledge, 溫習(xí)一下相關(guān)的業(yè)務(wù)知識。Barry說，即使第一次打輸了，也可以appeal the verdict上訴。看來，身正不怕影子歪! 公司沒做什么錯事，所以也不怕來個訴訟!

aLarry

B: Yeah, normally big companies will have lawyers to deal with such things. It happens on a daily basis. Maybe I can ask my friend to represent me when I decide to sue you....

A: Well...yeah...as if you have such a friend...好了，節(jié)目快結(jié)束了，我們最后再來學(xué)個詞兒!

Learn A Word 1619 disposable

今天我們要學(xué)的詞是disposable. Disposable is spelled d-i-s-p-o-s-a-b-l-e, disposable. Disposable意思是可以任意處理的。The Boulder City Council approved a proposal that would charge a 20-cent fee on all disposable grocery bags. 博德爾市政委員會批準(zhǔn)了一項對所有一次性購物袋收繳20美分的提案。日本一家化學(xué)場發(fā)生爆炸停產(chǎn)，這家工廠的產(chǎn)品是一次性尿布的重要元素。The shutdown of production triggered widespread fear about a global disposable diapers shortage. 工廠停產(chǎn)讓外界擔(dān)心，一次性尿布可能會出現(xiàn)全球范圍內(nèi)的短缺。最新報告說，A double-income family has to save all its disposable income for about 29 years to buy a new home in Taipei. 一個有兩份收入的家庭，要把可支配收入全部攢下來，29年后才能在臺北買一棟新房子。今天我們學(xué)習(xí)的詞是disposable, disposable, disposable....

A: I know exactly the word that I can use to describe you: disposable, very disposable.

B: (say something....)

A: 哈哈， 好了同學(xué)們，這次節(jié)目時間就到這里了。 如果你有什么建議，或者想提什么問題，請發(fā)電子郵件到[email protected].

B: Tune in next time for American English Mosaic!

A: See you next time!